We’re cats. We all love catnip*. (*Editor: Well, 2/3 of us do; 1/3 of us just pretend we do, so we don’t look like squares). But sometimes, certainty breeds complacency, so we thought it was about time we all said ‘out with the old and in with the new’ (go on, say it!) and explored some new ways to enjoy the most life-enriching, versatile herb known to cat-kind. Catnip.
So without further ado, here’s our list of 101 ways to use catnip, paw-sitively packed full of suggestions on how catnip can help you work, rest, and play, and info on the best catnip treats for cats, catnip-infused cat toys, cat scratching posts, sprays, and all manner of great catnip products. So, whether you need a catnip introduction, a refresher, or just some inspiration, keep reading for 101 top tips.
How to Use Catnip – The Basics
Catnip really is a marvelous mood modifier for all catty occasions. Here’s some help in understanding how…
Catnip as a Bodily Stimulant
1. Bored? Try catnip – it will get your blood pumping.
2. Tired? Try catnip – it will wake you up.
3. Lazy? Try catnip – it will help you find your motivation.
4. Overweight? Try catnip – it will get your legs moving.
5. A long night of hunting/partying/carousing ahead of you? Try catnip.
6. Planning a world record attempt, e.g., the longest period with eyes wide open staring at a bird? Try catnip.
7. Human fed up with you scratching their precious sofa? Try catnip.
Catnip as a Brain Stimulant
8. Bored? Try catnip – it will get your mind moving.
9. Do you have a complicated problem that needs solving, e.g., how do you fish a toy mouse out from under the oven? Try catnip.
10. Stuck indoors, with no access to the big wide world of adventure outside? Try catnip – travel transcendentally instead.
Catnip as an Anti-Anxiety Herb/Relaxant
Catnip is also wonderful for those moments when you need to slow down a bit or simply find some peace in an over-stimulating world. Such occasions may include:
11. When your human is away.
12. When there’s an unfamiliar cat trying to give you lip.
13. When a dog is being a dog (annoying).
14. When you are forced to put up with an unrequested change to your well-crafted routine.
15. When your human has the builders in.
16. When humans are lighting off fireworks.
17. When you are feeling generally jittery.
18. When you are irritated by fleas or worms.
19. When your human is fed up with you weeing where you shouldn’t.
20. When your human has made you move houses.
21. When you just feel a bit down in the dumps.
Catnip as Pain Relief
Cat nip can also help with physical symptoms, potentially providing relief from:
22. Injuries
23. Arthritis
24. Indigestion
25. Inflammation
Catnip as a Sleep Aid
Many catnip users find they like to get busy, go crazy, show their feline acrobatics, and then have a snooze. Others just like to skip (sleepily) straight to the snooze part. Here are some ways you can use catnip to add some much-needed zzzzzz’s to your cool cat life:
26. Use catnip, go crazy, and then have a cat nap.
27. Use catnip, have a cat nap, and experience the craziest dreams of your nine lives.
28. Have a cat nap, use catnip, have another cat nap, and repeat to fade (make sure you occasionally top up with water and essential nutrients, attend to your normal toilet and grooming routines, and stretch those legs).
29. Use catnip after a busy day to give you one last push, then send you off to sleep exhausted.
30. Use catnip to give you one last push and then send you off to sleep exhausted so you can sleep through a noisy or stressful situation.
When to Use Catnip
Catnip is best used on certain days of the week. We recommend:
31. Monday
32. Tuesday
33. Wednesday
34. Thursday
35. Friday
36. Saturday
37. Sunday
The best months to use catnip are as follows:
38. November – Thanksgiving is a time for family, and Black Friday is a time for bagging bargains.
39. December – Christmas is a time for gluttony, hooray!
40. June – the Summer Solstice is an epic time to have a party and stay up all night, preferably with the help of catnip.
41. All other months – also a great time to use catnip.
Certain seasons certainly lend themselves more to catnip use:
42. Winter – the nights are closing in.
43. Spring - ooh, I feel like frolicking.
44. Summer – cool me down, please.
45. Fall – time for reflection.
Certain celebratory occasions are also best marked by getting off your nut on cat nip, including:
46. Cat birthdays.
47. Cat/human anniversaries.
48. Cat weddings.
49. Cat Bar Mitzvahs.
50. Cat Easter.
51. Cat Diwali.
52. Cat Ramadam.
53. Cat Passover.
Plus, each stage of life lends itself to using catnip, but in a different way:
54. Kittenhood – catnip tends not to work until the age of around six months, and then, it’s all about discovery.
55. Young adulthood – as a teenage or young adult cat, use catnip to explore your boundaries.
56. Adulthood – as a fully-fledged adult, use catnip the way(s) you now know it suits you.
57. Old age – use it to relive your glory days, relieve aches and pains, and find inner peace.
Basically, we’re saying there’s never a bad time to use catnip, unless you’ve just used some, worn yourself out, and are temporarily immune*. (*Editor: this actually happens!). All you have to do is call your catnip dealer – mine’s on speed dial! – get him to make a drop, and then bingo, it’s party time! And if you’re having a party, YOU need…
Catnip Snacks and Treats
There ain’t no party like a catnip party, and while there’s no substitute for dishing out the best, purest, highest potency dried herb on the market – Cat Crack (free hit) – it’s also great to be able to party with some catnip-infused treats and toys which make eating, licking and enjoying life (together) that bit more fun than usual. Here’s a selection of snacks and treats which are currently available:
58. Crunchy treats with catnip inside.
59. Yogurt and catnip mice.
60. Catnip bites.
61. Catnip balls.
62. Catnip sticks.
63. Catnip cookies.
64. Catnip chew ropes.
Catnip Toys for Cats
There’s also an endless range and variety of catnip toys out there, such as
65. Catnip kicker toys
66. Catnip teasers
67. Catnip bubbles
68. Catnip flying footballs
69. Catnip chew toys
70. Catnip crinkle toys
71. Catnip mice
72. Catnip cats
73. Catnip fish
74. Catnip safari animals
75. Catnip dinosaurs
76. Catnip pillow chew toys
77. Catnip cockerels
78. Catnip hedgehogs
79. Catnip seahorses
80. Catnip wiggle worms
81. Catnip carrots
82. Catnip kale
83. Catnip rope
84. Catnip feather sticks
85. Catnip lollies
86. Catnip ice creams
Cat Scratching Posts
87. Every cat should have access to a cat scratch post, occasionally sprinkled or sprayed with catnip. Look out for one on its way soon from Cat Crack H.Q.!
How/Where to Use Catnip Sprays
Always use a high-quality catnip spray (a reputable brand, using all-natural ingredients), use in moderation (so you can get the dosing right), and then try spraying on/in:
88. Toys
89. Cat scratching posts
90. Bedding
91. Unfamiliar objects or spaces
92. Cardboard boxes (we love those!)
Catnip for Humans
We don’t like to encourage this – it’s our herb and does not ‘work’ on humans in the same way – but if you do ever want to reward your human with a gift or gesture, tell them they can use catnip in the following ways:
93. As a catnip tea.
94. In cooking.
95. For aromatherapy.
96. As potpourri – add dried catnip into your mix.
97. Planted in the garden as insect repellent.
98. To make candles (for romantic nights in with cats).
99. For herbal bathes mixed with bath salts (for romantic nights in without cats).
100. As fertilizer (using dead leaves)
Best Catnip
And finally, always remember to forget the rest and get the best:
101. Cat Crack!
To see how much you know about cats and catnip, take our first quiz here.
For further fun facts about catnip head here and here.
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